Match container



.E. J. CRUMP, JR 3,278,009

MATCH CONTAINER Filed Feb. 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 2 Fig. 30

INVENTOR.

EDWARD J. CRUME JR.

lair/J zz.

ATTORNEY ZSheets-Sheec 2 Fig. 7

INVENTOR. EDWARD J. CRUMB JR ATTORNEY E. J. CRUMP, JR

MATCH CONTAINER Fig. 6

Fig. 5

Oct. 11, 1966 Filed Feb. 24, 1964 United States Patent 3,278,009 MATCHCONTAINER Edward J. Crump, In, R0. Box 7161, Dallas, Tex. Filed Feb. 24,1964, Ser. No. 346,652 4 Claims. (Cl. 20636) This invention relates to amatch container and more specifically to a plastic match container ormatch box having a sliding cover and a biarcuate recess in at least onesurface of the box other than the top to house a match striking surface.

The match container of the invention affords a clean, functional designproviding rounded corners including a sliding lid closure which is setin a unique slide groove. The material preferred in forming the matchbox is plastic such as polyethylene or the like which may be of variousdegrees of stiffness and wall thickness to afford a crush-proof box asdesired. Preferably, the match box is made of plastic and may bebrightly colored for novelty or advertising purposes. The biarcuaterecessed striking surface of the container avoids loss of the strikingsurface material by rubbing off on hands or clothing of the match boxuser or carrier. Moreover, when the matches have been used up thebiarcuate recess, with striking surface material removed, affords agripping aid to the container. The container, of course, may be reusedfor holding various knick knacks such as Bobbie pins, tacks, beads,buttons or perhaps even money in the form of small change. Of course,the fact that the boxes are made from plastic permits color selectivelyto provide a multitude of varying colors. Thus color coding for reuse ofthe containers may be achieved by the user in selectively purchasingvarious plastic design match containers.

Briefly the invention appertains to a two-part match container. Thebottom or base of the container is a one piece molded plasticconstruction and the top part is a substantially planar lid or cover.The lid and body have complementary elements which afford slidingretention of the lid to the body of the box. The lid has a thumb gripfor convenience of traversing the lid with respect to the box foropening thereof. The lid further has a stop element to preventtraversing the lid completely free of the box without a specific effortto completely remove the lid. The box body has preferably at one sidethereof a biarcuate recess or depression therein for placing appropriatestriking material for the matches within the box. The entire two-partmatch container affords a relatively streamlined, cornerless, uniqueconstruction of a decorative and attractive plastic match containerwhich would appeal to the feminine gender who normally detest carryingsuch match boxes as now in use.

Other advantages can be readily achieved by utilizing the plastic matchbox as pertaining to the invention. For example, the plastic may be ofsuch translucency as to make its contents visible without opening thecontainer. This is quite desirable as a feature after the matches havebeen used up and the box is placed in reuse for knick knacks and such asit would afford immediate identification as to the contents in thecontainer. For campers, the plastic container would provide a drycontainer for matches. If dropped, perhaps in water, the container wouldprobably float.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a plastic matchcontainer which affords round corners to avoid catching, sticking,scratching or cutting of fingers in handling the box as well asproviding a decorative and attractive match box Which is of simpletwo-piece constru-ction;

Another object of the invention is to provide a match container whichhas a sliding transversible lid or cover ice having a rounded tongueconstruction along parallel longitudinal edges of the lid which mate incomplementary grooves of the body of the box, the lid and box beingsubstantially co-extensive with one another;

It is another object of the invention to provide a plastic match boxwhich is dainty and decorative and has a bilateral arcuate recess in atleast one side of the box to provide a striking surface for matches andhas a sliding lid utilizing complementary elements to provide relativetranslation between the box and lid to a limited degree;

It is another object of the invention to provide a plastic matchcontainer which is dainty and attractive and free from sharp cornershaving a limited translatable container closure, the closure and boxhaving complementary engaging elements to provide planar relativetranslation, said box having at least one bilateral arcuate surfacerecess area to afford a protective striking surface area for said matchcontainer.

These and other objects and advantages of the inven tion will becomeapparent from the detailed description and appended claims taken inconjunction with the following drawings wherein;

FIGURE 1 illustrates the match container in perspective with a quartersection removed;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the cross sectional view of another embodiment ofthe match container with the bilateral arcuate recess surface areaillustrated in the bottom of the box and alternatively in either one orboth sides of the box;

FIGURE 3A illustrates the lid-stop when the lid is translated in onedirection;

And FIGURE 33 illustrates the lid-stop against the end of the box whenthe lid is translated in a direction opposite than that of FIGURE 3A;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 depicting thebilateral arcuate recess surface area in one end of said box;

FIGURE 5 illustrates complementary elements engaging as a tongue anddeep lid groove;

FIGURE 6 illustrates an open hook engaging element for the lid;

FIGURE 7 illustrates a modified tongue and groove lid engagement;

FIGURE 8 illustrates an L-slot groove and tongue complementary hookelements.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 1 there is illustrated the preferredembodiment of the invention. The container has a quarter section removedwhich is a mirror image of the rear quarter. The match containerillustrated appertaining to the invention is of two-piece construction.The container is formed of a body 1 and a closure or lid 2. In the sideof box or body 1, there is the bilateral arcuate surface area 3,recessed into the wall of the body 1. As illustrated, the Wall of box 1is depressed to form the bilateral arcuate area 3. Within the area 3 thestriking surface for matches is provided. The surface may be either justa rough type area for the socalled strike anywhere matches or maycontain the appropriate material for igniting safety matches. Inconjunction with the area 3, it will be noted that the length of thestriking surface is a relatively small area for providing safety matchigniting material however, this affords the advantage of lower cost infurnishing a sufficient amount of material to ignite all the matchescontained within the box. Moreover, and more important, the strikingarea 3 is designed With a safety feature. Thus, when a person holds thematch container between their fingers at its ends 4 and 5, the fingersof the holder are sufficiently remote from the striking area to preventaccidental movement of the match across the striking area to a point atwhich contact with the fingers of the holder occurs. It should beappreciated that although the wall of container 1 in the surface area 3is intended into the center of the box, the bilateral arcuate surfacecould be formed within the wall of the container without depression intothe interior of the container. At each side of the container walls,circular keyways 6 and 7 are provided. The lid 2 has complementarycircular engaging lips 8 and 9 which fit in the circular keyways 7 and6, respectively, to permit planar translation of the lid with respect tothe container 1. To aid in translation of the lid with respect to thebox 1, the lid has a cupped or biarcuate area 10 similar as striker area3 with a rib 11 therein. The rib 11 is flush with the top surface of lid2. It will be appreciated that there are no sharp edges or cornersanywhere on the container as these are all rounded. Another feature ofthe match container is the lid stop 12 which is formed in the lid 2.When the lid 2 is translated in either direction lid stop 12 is designedto produce a restraining force at the internal edge of the end of thecontainer.

It is believed well within the skill of the art as to the particulartechniques and method of making various plastic shapes, and suchtechniques can be applied in making the match container appertaining tothe invention as depicted in FIGURE 1.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 2 there is illustrated a crosssectional view of another embodiment of the invention. As illustratedthe base or body has a striking slot or bilateral arcuate recess 23 inthe bottom of the body, and alternatively the striker surface isillustrated in either side of the body at 24 and 25 as illustrated bythe dotted lines therein. The lid or closure 26 has conventional tongues27 and 28 which fit into conventional grooves 29 and 30, respectively. Arestraining lug 31 is formed in the top similar to restraining lug 12 inFIG- URE 1.

Referring to FIGURES 3A and 3B there is illustrated in a partly brokenaway, cross sectional view the operation or function of the restraininglug 12 illustrated in FIGURE 1 similar to the restraining lug 31depicted in FIGURE 2. In FIGURE 3A, lid 2 is fully traversed to the leftwith restraining lug 12 resting against the wall. The plasticconstruction of the container may be such that lid 2 may be forcedbeyond the normal stop position and completely removed. In FIGURES 3Aand 3B rib 11a is similar to rib 11 but has a rounded top rather thanfiat. FIGURE 3B shows lid 2 fully traversed to the right at its normalstop.

In FIGURE 4, a similar match container to FIGURE 1 is depicted. Thecontainer consists of body 61 with a closure or lid 52. The containerlid 52 and body 61 have complementary engaging elements identical tothat depicted in FIGURE 2. Lid 52 has ribs in a scooped out area similarto area 10 in FIGURE 1. Also, lid 52 has restraining lug 53 thereon.Although area 55 is completely full of ribs 50, several ribs near thecenter of area 55 would be sufficient and serve the purpose of providinga thumb or finger grip on the lid.

Now, referring to FIGURES 5 to 8, various complementary lid and bodyengaging elements are illustrated which may be used to provide planartranslation of the lid for a limited amount of distance. In FIGURE 5 lidhas a central slot 71 in which a projection from container body 72 fits.In FIGURE 6, lid terminates in a hook ledge and body 82 provides acomplementary engaging ridge. The engagement of body 82 with lid 80 atarea 81 is such that excessive pressure on the center of lid 80 istransmitted into body 82, and lid 80 remains intact rather thanspringing out of engagement.

FIGURE 7 depicts lid with a fork-shaped engaging recess with body 92having a ridge fitted into the forkshaped recess of lid 90 at area 91.

In the FIGURE 8 embodiment lid and body 102 terminate in complementaryhook elements along the area of juncture 101.

The above invention has been disclosed with reference to the rod-jointcomplementary lid and wall juncture as the preferred embodiment;however, various other changes and modifications of the invention willbe apparent to those skilled in the art other than those describedherein. It will be appreciated that such changes mentioned heretoforeare within the scope of the invention which is limited only by the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A plastic match container having a uniformly smooth contourcomprising a plastic hull body open in one plane, a lid coextensive indimension with said one plane, said body and said lid havingcomplementary engaging elements to provide a unitary container structurewith limited sliding translation between said lid and said body, abiarcuate depression in at least one side of said body, said depressionhaving a striking surface thereon, said depression being substantiallyless than coextensive with said one side of said body, said hull bodyand said lid defining a rounded bottom border and a rounded upper bordermatch container.

2. The match container of claim 1 wherein at the underside of said lidis provided a restraining lug to limit planar translation of said lid.

3. An article container having a uniformly smooth contour comprising ahull body having a flat bottom, a pair of side panels and a pair of endwalls forming a rolled lower border, said side panels having rolled sidemargins at the outer surface thereof, a slidable closure for said hullbody, said closure having side portions and end portions, said sideportions and said side panels defining complementary tongues and groovesto permit relative translation therebetween, said end portions and saidend walls defining rolled end margins, said end margins and said sidemargins forming a rolled upper border about said container, and in onesurface of said hull body a biarcuate depression, said depression havinga match striking surface thereon and in said closure 21 biarcuaterecess.

4. An article container having a uniformly smooth contour comprising ahull body having a bottom panel joined to a pair of end walls and a pairof side panels having a free margin, said hull body defining a rolledbottom border for said container at the juncture of the bottom panelwith the end walls and side panels, said side panels defining rolledside edges at said free margin, and a closure having side portions andend portions, said side portions and said side panels havingcomplementary tongues and grooves to slidably retain said closure memberbetween said side panels at the free margin, said end walls and said endportions forming rolled end edges, a biarcuate depression within one ofsaid side panels, said depression having a match striking surfacethereon and a biarcuate recess in said closure, said rolled end edgesand rolled side edges providing a rolled upper border for saidcontainer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 241,083 5/1881Somers 220-41 358,450 3/1887 Hurlbut 22041 363,077 5/1887 Merritt 217-621,599,967 9/ 1926 Johnson. 2,582,821 1/1952 Duell et al. 22041 2,590,8043/ 1952 Vitale 22041 2,645,336 7/1953 Waber et al. 22041 2,692,69810/1954 Waterman 22041 2,758,708 8/1956 Reid 20636 X 3,123,205 3/1964Ehrsam 20633 FOREIGN PATENTS 109,305 10/ 1943 Sweden.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

MARTHA L. RICE, Examiner.

1. A PLASTIC MATCH CONTAINER HAVING A UNIFORMLY SMOOTH CONTOURCOMPRISING A PLASTIC HULL BODY OPEN IN ONE PLANE, A LID COEXTENSIVE INDIMENSION WITH SAID PLANE, SAID BODY AND SAID LID HAVING COMPLEMENTARYENGAGING ELEMENTS TO PROVIDE A UNITARY CONTAINER STRUCTURE WITH LIMITEDSLIDING TRANSLATION BETWEEN SAID LID AND SAID BODY, A BIARCUATEDEPRESSION IN AT LEAST ONE SIDE OF SAID BODY, SAID DEPRESSION HAVING ASTRIKING SURFACE THEREON, SAID DEPRESSION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THANCOEXTENSIVE WITH SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID BODY, SAID HULL BODY AND SAID LIDDEFINING A ROUNDED BOTTOM BORDER AND A ROUNDED UPPER BORDER MATCHCONTAINER.